Vikings owner Zygi Wilf keeping quiet about Brett Favre

Vikings owner Zygi Wilf, usually willing to answer a question or two about his team, was conspicuously mute when asked Saturday about whether he has interest in free-agent quarterback Brett Favre.

"I have no comment," Wilf said, then repeated, "no comment."

Wilf did say he feels "great" about his football team.

"We're always improving," he said, adding he feels the team "did a great job" with the draft.

Expectations for 2009?

"We're there to defend our division, so we're in a good spot," he said.

The Vikings have been evasive, but not dismissive, when asked about Favre. It's clear one of two issues involve the possibility of Favre signing with Minnesota. Either Favre isn't certain he wants to play again, or his return is predicated on passing a physical for the biceps muscle he tore in his throwing arm last season.

If Favre is to become the Vikings' quarterback for 2009, and it still appears he will, a deal is expected to be done within the next three weeks. The Vikings' mandatory minicamp for players is May 29-31.

It's unclear whether the Vikings had been tipped off that the New York Jets would accede to Favre's request to be released soon after last weekend's draft. But if so, that could be why Minnesota backed away from the Jay Cutler-Matt Cassel sweepstakes, knowing Favre would be available to the Vikings.

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The Twins might not have a better time than now to sign Joe Mauer to a long-term contract extension.

Mauer is back in the Twins' lineup after missing the club's first 22 games because of a sore back. He has six hits in two games. His contract leverage, although still lofty, might never be as relatively weak as now.

The Twins figured last season, when Mauer was an all-star catcher, batting champion and Gold Glove winner, would be a poor time to open negotiations. They were right.

But with his physical condition as a catcher still precarious because of the back, now might be the time to strike. Mauer, 26, just now entering his career prime, is being paid $10.5 million this season. He'll make $12.5 million next season, the final year of his contract.

Mauer is a Minnesota icon, and with the team moving to a new ballpark next year, it's clear the Twins would love to sign the Cretin-Derham Hall graduate to a deal for at least six years, maybe eight.

If Mauer is healthy and produces at his current pace, it could cost the Twins nearly $20 million a season to keep him. For sure, the Red Sox and Yankees would be willing to pay that if Mauer were to become a free agent after next season.

Mauer's career on-base percentage is .399; that means he's on base nearly four times out of 10. Last season, his OBP was .413.

Mauer's next contract negotiations will be the most important in the club's history.

Mauer will play in his family's "Diamonds in the Rough" charity golf tournament May 11 at the StoneRidge course in Stillwater. The tournament, which includes a sports memorabilia auction, benefits "Friends of St. Paul Baseball," which promotes the game with facility improvements in the city.

The Vikings' second-round draft pick, offensive tackle Phil Loadholt, a 6-foot-8, 340-pound replica of teammate Bryant McKinnie, played left tackle at Oklahoma but is expected to focus on right tackle in Minnesota.

"I feel real comfortable about the transition," Loadholt said.

Does he expect to start as a rookie? "I'm just here to compete," he said.

Jim Manthis, 67, who was golf professional for 29 years at Midland Hills Country Club and instructs at the University-Bolstad course, leaves Monday for Port St. Lucie, Fla., where he'll be inducted Tuesday with teaching legends Harvey Penick, Claude Harmon Sr., and Eddie Merrins into the PGA Club Professionals Hall of Fame.

Manthis' golf tip of the day: "Too many golfers reach for the ball with their weight on their toes, so stand a little closer to the ball with your weight back on your feet. You should be able to wiggle your toes in your stance."

Presenters for the 25th Mancini's St. Paul Sports Hall of Fame inductions banquet May 11 at the Char House: Dave Metzen for Doug Woog, Ed Hitchcock for Ray Hitchcock, Jim Wells for Mike Evgen, Mal Scanlan for Rich Kallok, John Finley for Jim Conway and Charley Walters for Jack Morris.

Some 350 attendees are expected for tonight's Wishes and More-ALS Scott LeDoux fundraiser at the downtown Minneapolis Marriott.

DON'T PRINT THAT

It's becoming evident the Twins will need to use Joe Mauer as designated hitter when he's not catching and move regular DH Jason Kubel to the outfield those days.

Besides ex-Timberwolves coach Randy Wittman, who is a sure bet, the latest names mentioned as possible assistants for former Wolves coach Flip Saunders, who will coach the Washington Wizards next season, are former NBA head coaches Sam Mitchell, Terry Porter and Eric Musselman.

When Griffith's father, club owner Calvin Griffith, asked his son how much he gave Hrbek to sign, Calvin, astounded, immediately fired Clark.

"I'm serious; he really fired me," Clark said.

Griffith, now a Minneapolis attorney who teaches classes at William Mitchell and Hamline law schools, and Hrbek, 48, were chatting about the signing/firing the other day in the Metrodome press box.

"It took awhile for Calvin to hire me back," said Clark, the Northern League commissioner who recently was named recipient of the Joseph O'Neill Award by the National Sports Law Institute at Marquette University Law School for contribution to sports.

Look for former Iowa State men's basketball recruiting whiz Darryl Sharp, 42, who also coached at Minneapolis Washburn High School, to be named top assistant to Edward Joyner at Hampton (Va.) University.

Inducted into baseball's hall of fame as a Milwaukee Brewer, Paul Molitor will play in a hall of fame game in Cooperstown, N.Y., next month wearing his Twins uniform.

OVERHEARD

The Twins' Joe Nathan, on an SI.com report calling him the major leagues' most "consistent and underrated" closer: "I didn't know that."